Improved folding chair



M 2 m rv fx n l N PETERS, PHOTO LITHOGRAPHER UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

E. C. BANKS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED FOLDING CHAIR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 98,4 l5, dated December 28, 1869.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LE. O. BANKS, of Boston, county of Suifolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Irnprovement in Folding Chairs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying plate of drawings.

My invention consists in thegpeculiar` construction and combination of parts to produce a simple and compact folding chair.

In the accompanying plate of drawings my improvement in folding-chairs is illustrated, Figure l being a side elevation of a chair, with its legs opened, constructed according thereto; Fig. 2, a similar view to Fig. l, but with the legs or the chair closed; Figs. 3 and 4,

central vertical sections in transverse plane, respectively, of Figs. l and 2; Fig. 5, a horizontal transverse section in plane of line x, Fig. l, showing a view of the under side of the chair-seat.

A A in the drawings represent the front legs, and B B the rear legs, which are respectively extended upward, crossing each other, (the one or the front legs within the other or the rear legs,) and are hung or pivoted together at their intersection C, so that they can be opened from and closed within each other. The front legs are extended upward somewhat beyond the height of the'l upper ends I) of the rear legs to form a back trame, E, that is to be stiffened and braced at suitable points of its height or length by cross bars or rails F.

G are cross-bars or rails, one to each set of the legs A and B, at or near their lower ends, for stiftening and strengthing the same.

H is the seat-frame. This seat-frame H, at or near its front side or edge and upon its under side, is provided with two similar eyes, I, setting over and about the cross round or bar J, secured in upper ends K of rear legs, B B, connecting the two together, and also with two similar elongated staples, L, extending in parallel planes from points in the seatframe, slightlyin the rear of eyes I, before referred to, to points near the rear edge or side M of seat, embracing .within their length a cross bar or round, N, secured in front legs and connecting the two in the same horizontal plane, or nearly so, with the round J, before referred to. The eyes I are of a width to iit rather closely about the round J, but sufficiently elongated to allow the seat to have a vertical play on theround, as plainly shown in the drawings.

A chair having its seat constructed and attached to the supporting cross-legs, as above described, when the legs are opened from or closed Within each other, causes in the one case a swinging of the seat upon the rounds J and N, bringing it to a bearing or rest thereon, and in the other case,by similarly moving `legs begin to separate, is through the eyes I thereof on the round J given a rotary movement about the round N, swinging its rear end up, and at the same time drawing the seat along upon the same until the seat having reached a nearly horizontal position, its further movement is arrested by the abutment of the rear end of elongated staples L against said round N, the action of the said hanging in the closing of the legs being substantially the reverse of the above, and therefore needing no more particular explanation.

In lieu of the relative positions of the eyes I and staples L, above described, it is obvious they may be reversed-that is, the eyes placed at the rear and the sta-ples at the front side of seat-frame, the action being substantially the same as the legs are opened and closed.

i The object of using elongated eyes I is more particularly to permit the seat-frame, when the legs are folded together, to drop between the legs into a compact form.

By my improved arrangement and construction of a folding-chair not only is a perfect and complete folding together of the scat and legs, the one within the other, enabled to be obtained, but a strong and stiff support and rest for the seat secured when the legs are opened, it resting at front and rear upon fixed cross-rounds, as has been above described, the advantage of which,as regards durability and solidity more especially, is most important, as is self apparent.

To prevent a sliding movement of the seat between the sides of its supporting-legs A A B E, the round N, and staples L, arranged longitudinally and horizontally beneath the seat H, as and for the purpose set forth.

The above specification of my improved folding chair signed by me this 9th day of November, A. D. 1869.

E. C. BANKS.

Witnesses EDWIN W. BROWN, ALBERT W. BROWN. 

